Flying with Kite Gear?

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

I'm taking this show on the road, and was wondering if anyone has any tips for flying with kite gear. I'm on Southwest, so I get two bags still, I think...

Anyone know how to minimize costs for baggage?

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

Buy the Slingshot, DaKine, NSI, or Msytic kite bags
Keep each bag under 50 lbs. max
Smile & plop your frequent flyer card down.

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

my golf travel bag has almost as much room as my dakine coffin. since it doesn't say 'dakine' on it, no one has ever said anything to me about it. Plus, you can get the golf travel bags off of craigs for nothing

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/spo/2509390918.html

this one is weak but true. Look like a professional, act like one, and get treated like one. If your hat is on backward, your tshirt says 'phukkit', and every other word is 'dewwd', your chances of not having to pay the $100 bucks for your gear will get slimmer. This little thing has proven itself to be true more times than not when i travel to kite with my buds. To this day I have never paid for my gear to go. Weak to have to sell out a bit, but i can handle the indignity of it all for a flight and save $100 bux. Shit, some places i go, $100 bux goes a real long way.

If domestic, curb check is a pretty good way to avoid some of the typical hassles.

Mike D · Since 28 Apr 2011 195 Posts Hood River Stoked

I've used a best golf bag several times and have only been questioned once. The attendant asked if I was actually carrying golf clubs, I pulled a golf ball out of the pocket and she had no more questions. Two kites and bars (no bags), a board, harness, pump and wetsuit, 49 lbs every time. Weigh your bag ahead of time so you don't have to pull all your kite gear out at the desk to shed pounds and end up exposing yourself.

krueg · Since 16 Feb 2010 51 Posts Wenatchee Wa **CGKA Member**

Have to second what OG had to say. I went to Holland last year on a buisness trip and was dressed for the occasion. I had two kites, a board, bar, wetsuit and harness in my NSI bag, and stuffed all my clothes in a backpack to carry on. No problems at the airport. I spent the week in very wrinkely clothes, but I had some great kiting.
By the way, dry your stuff out befor the return flight. I was under 50 pound going but my stuff weighed in at 49.8 on the return trip. Just made it thanks to the hotels conviently placed articles of furniture.

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

great advice from everyone, but also it kind of depends on the gear you are packing. golf or "golf" style bags are great for up to three kites, two twintips and bar/lines + fins, tools and extras. that will get you under the 50 lbs limit which is key to make the golf bag work free of charges. also a bag that says "GOLF" on the side tends to keep the questions minimal.

if you are like me and NEED to bring a surfboard as well, then the whole deal changes. my dakine SX bag is about the best i have found that fits all my stuff and is still under 50 lbs.

two things to consider with this approach.

1. say you have a "surfboard" NOT kiteboard. generally surfboards have a set fee with the airlines whereas kites do not. if the agent is having a rough day, you will be paying whatever they decide you pay. kiteboards are not on the radar and therefor are subject to the whims of the agent.
2. once you have acknowledged that you have A (1) surfboard, all the rest is free, so you could potentially pack 3 surfboards, kites and whatever and still be charged for just one surfboard. they hardly ever want to open the bag and look and most agents feel bad about charging you as it is, so it never goes up based on multiple boards.

the SX packs: two kites (could be three easily), twin tip, two surf boards under 5'10", bars/lines, pump and harness. you pay $100 but thats a lot of stuff for 100 bucks. im happy to pay it if it means my stuff is going to be handled carefully. if you show up at the agents desk and be nice, polite, call them sir or ma'am and be generally friendly and not douchy in any way, chances are they might wave the whole fee.

good luck.

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Are you saying that the airlines will allow golf clubs as a piece of luggage, but won't accept kite gear if they know it's kite gear?

Sorry for being so dense. First time fake golf player here... Smile

beej · Since 16 Jul 2010 180 Posts Stoked

Just found http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-4141.html from 2007. Sounds like this has been a common issue for a while. Smile

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

Swizz · Since 25 Jul 2011 11 Posts Salem

ldhr · Since 21 Jul 2009 1489 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

keep each piece under 50 lbs. use a golf bag.
don't mention the B word (board). it's surf boards and and windsurf boards they charge extra for.
if you're traveling domestic - check your bags curbside and tip the guy $5.00. not sure SW has curbside checkin?
if your traveling international you cannot use curbside.
yes - golf bags are free. the airlines want golf business. the bags are under 50 lbs and golfers are big spenders and probably buy 1,000 tickets for every ticket purchased by a kiter.
but mostly - check the SW website and search baggage policy.....

OG · Since 07 Jun 2011 597 Posts Addicted

NCKite_Ryder · Since 16 Mar 2011 38 Posts Nor Cal Coast

It also depends on where you are. The airports around South Padre Island or Maui are hip to our "golf bag" for kites. Not the first time around the block.... Getting to these places is no problem, but getting back can be an issue. $110 coming home from SPI with gear in an NSI bag.... GAY! They spotted me a mile away.

My old man swears by tipping the curbside baggage guy extra heavy and checking the bags at that point. I've just begun traveling with no boards, and just renting boards or buying and selling as a solution, or borrowing. Most kiters living in Maui, or SPI, or other tropical premier destinations are super cool and friendly about loaning gear. Not so much in the California Delta (Sherman), they will get all pissssssy about borrowing a pump... EEK!

WINDUDE · Since 10 Jun 2010 558 Posts GORGE! Addicted

I am probably 6/6 on roundtrips with no problem, knock on wood!

wear a polo shirt, not your ghetto'd out flat brim ball cap with hoodie up, you don't see too many of those on the golf course!

I always compliment the lady at the check in counter on how nice her pin looks, and ask other questions to distract them from their normal routine. If they have a name tag on say "hi ****, how are you today?" I swear it works every time.

Just be kind, nobody wants to help a douche, it's how the world goes round!